Blue Jackets crowds through five games this season are averaging 14,391, which ranks 27th in the NHLGETTY IMAGES
Blue Jackets attendance at Nationwide Arena is "down by nearly 1,000 fans per game through this point last season (five home games), and down more than 2,000 fans per game from the whole of last season," according to Aaron Portzline of THE ATHLETIC. The Blue Jackets, averaging 14,391 fans at home, are 27th in the NHL, and the decline is the "sharpest in the league" so far this season. Struggling to attract fans is "nothing new in Columbus," but the Blue Jackets have made the playoffs in back-to-back years and are "widely expected to make it three in a row next spring." Attendance for Tuesday's loss to the Coyotes was 11,458, but the actual crowd was "likely somewhere less than five digits." Blue Jackets VP/Communications & Team Services Todd Sharrock said that the team has "sold roughly 10,600 season-ticket equivalents, only 100 or so fewer than last season." He added that the renewal rate over the summer was "more than" 90%. Sharrock said that it is "too early" in the season to "draw any conclusions." Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski said, "I don’t think we market enough as a team. Obviously we have Ohio State football here, which is the biggest thing. But as a team, we could market a lot more, especially with the guys we have here in this dressing room. ... It’s something I think we should look into, for sure. It could grow our team in the city and maybe it’ll put more fans in the stands" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/25).
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BLUE JACKETS ATTENDANCE TREND AT NATIONWIDE ARENA
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SEASON
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TOTAL
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AVERAGE
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'17-18
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683,034
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16,659
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'16-17
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650,157
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15,857
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'15-16
|
601,293
|
14,666
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'14-15
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635,973
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15,512
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'13-14
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602,619
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14,698
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'12-13*
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349,558
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14,565
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'11-12
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601,061
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14,660
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'10-11**
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546,350
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13,659
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'09-10
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632,086
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15,417
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'08-09
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637,284
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15,544
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